19h37: It’s a closed deal, pending a physical exam, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com tweets. Kluber will win over $ 10 million, for Jon Heyman of MLB Network.
19h27: The Yankees are finalizing a contract with the right-handed agent Corey Kluber, according ESPN.com’s Jeff Passan. The details are not yet known. Kluber is a client of Jet Sports Management.
After a few quiet months, the Yankees were certainly active on Friday. Hours before Kluber’s news was released, they made great progress towards rehiring a second base star DJ LeMahieu for six years and $ 90 million. Kluber, 34, is not going to get that kind of contract, but, as a two-time winner of Cy Young of the American League, he is clearly an outstanding choice for a Yankees team that needs help with their rotation.
During his 2014-18 peak years in Cleveland, Kluber averaged 218 entries per season and combined a stellar 2.85 ERA / 2.99 SIERA with a 28.5% elimination rate and an insignificant walking rate 5.2%. There was no reason to expect a drop in 2019, but Kluber hasn’t been the same since. He played 35 2/3 innings in the first weeks of that season and was tattooed by offensive opponents, who totaled 23 races won in 44 strikes and 15 walks (38 eliminations) against Kluber before succumbing to a fractured right forearm on May 1. That was Kluber’s last game with Cleveland, who left him with the Rangers as a reliever. Emmanuel Clase and outfielder Delino DeShields in December 2019.
More to come.